Article counting device



Feb. 13, 1968 Filed Aug. 15, 1966 HURST ET AL 3,368,713

ARTICLE COUNTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

" 1 KERNEY J. HURST WALTER 5. PEARSON INVEN'IORS.

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FIG. 2

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AGENT Feb. 13, 1968 J HURST ET AL 3,368,713

ARTICLE COUNTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet KERNEY J. HURST WALTER G. PEARSQN INVENTORS.

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AGENT K. J. HURST ET AL 3,368,713

ARTICLE Feb. 13, 1968 COUNTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 15, 1966 INVENTORS. KERNEY J. HURST U WALTER G. PEARSON BY AGENT United States Patent M 3 Claims. (Cl. Ell-7) The present invention is a continuation-in-part of an application filed by us in the United States Patent Oi'fice on June 9, 1965, Ser. No. 462,672, now Patent No. 3,266,- 664 for Article Counting Device.

The present invention relates to machines for counting small articles such as pills, tablets, Capsules or an other small article of similar nature.

Valuable time is lost by pharmacists in the tedious operation of counting the exact number of pills or tablets required to fill prescriptions particularly where the volume of prescriptions being filled is relatively large.

The prior art reveals a number of counting machines adapted to count a predetermined number pills or tablets and deposit them in separate containers, some of which are progressively conveyed past the counting device. Some of these counting devices are designed for use by the manufacturer of such pills or tablets, rather than by the individual pharmacist, wherein each successive prescription filled has a number of pills or tablets which is different from the previously filled prescription. Fill counting machines, as shown by the prior art, so far as We have been able to determine, do not provide a mechanism capable of being easily changed for counting a selected number of pills for individual prescriptions. it is highly important in the handling of pharmaceutical tablets that the tablets be undamaged and be kept clean to present a perfect appearance to the consumer.

This invention is an improvement over our above referred to application in that the article containing hopper has been modified in combination with the article actuated microswitch to insure greater accuracy in the tablet counting operation adapted for use with a conventional article counting control or with our electrical counting control means.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide an improved article counting machine which will accurately count or separate a selected number of articles from a hopper containing a reserve supply.

Another object is to provide a device which will count a selected number of articles without any damage thereto.

Another object is to provide a counting machine which is controlled by a preset electrical means for counting out the predetermined number of articles.

A further object is to provide a device which is fully automatic in operation and does not require manual supervision once the machine has been placed in operation.

Another object is to provide a device or machine adaptable for handling small articles of various shapes and sizes.

Still another object is to provide a machine of this class which is relatively simple in construction, positive in operation, and which can easily stand continuous usage with a minimum of service or repair.

A further object is to provide a device of this class which may be readily used by pharmaceutical manufacturers, or the like, in counting out a large volume of pills, or the like.

Yet another object is to provide a device of this class which may comprise a single unit, or a multiplicity of such units, all electrically controlled wherein a plurality of counting operations may be performed.

3,368,?13 Patented Feb. 13, 1958 The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing a frame having an upper inclined support. Motor driven disk means, mounted on the inclined support, is provided with article receiving openings. Electrical counting means operates the motor for rotating the disk means and stops the latter at a predetermined setting when the counting means has been actuated by the passage of the selected number of articles being counted.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying three sheets of drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the article holding hopper and its support connected with a counting control unit, the latter being shown in elevation;

lGURE 2 is a top view of the article holding hopper, per se;

FiGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to FlG. J, illustrating an alternative manner of connecting the article counting disk to the motor shaft;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of HS. 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FiG. 2; and,

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram of a counting control means.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

Referring to FIGURES l to 4, the reference numeral 1% indicates the device, as a Whole, comprising an article holding and selecting means 12 connected to and operated by a counting control means 14. The article holding means 12 is substantially box-like in general configuration adapted to he slid into and out of a supporting cabinet, not shown, by slide rails 16 wherein a front panel 18, forming one wall of the box l2, closes the opening in the cabinet to provide a pleasing appearance. The configuration of the article holding means 12 is shown by way of example only but it is preferred that the top 13 of the box have an upper inclined surface which is preferably covered by a plastic plate 2i} for the reasons which will be readily apparent.

An article receiving hopper 22, cup-like in general configuration, is mounted on the upper surface of the plate 24). A motor M1 is mounted within the box 12 adjacent the under surface 21 of the top 13. The motor is provided with a drive shaft 212, which projects upwardly through an opening 26 formed in the top 13 and plate 20. A bearing support 28 surrounds the motor shaft 2d and spans the opening 26. A bearing 3d, surrounding the shaft 24, has its upper surface maintained in selected spaced relation with respect to the upper surface of the plate 20 and bearing support 28 by a spacer ring 32 and blocks 33. The vertical height of the ring and blocks is selected to position the upper surface of the bearing 30 a selected distance above the plate 20 in accordance with the size of the articles to be counted as hereinafter described.

A slotted disk 34 is coaxially connected to and rotated by the motor shaft 24 by a key 36. The slotted disk 34 contacts the upper surface of the bearing 30 which maintains the slotted disk 34 in spaced relation with respect to the upper surface of the plate 25 The disk 34 is provided with a plurality of vertical elongated slots or o enings 38 open at one end to the peripheral edge of the disk 34 and terminating at their other inward end in spaced relation with respect to the motor shaft 24 thus forming the slotted disk. Each of the slots 38 are angularly inclined, toward the direction of rotation of the disk, with respect to a diametric line taken across the cisl; and through the inward end portion of the respective slot. The innermost end portion of each slot is curved, as at 3 (FIG. 2), toward the direction of rotation for the purposes presently explained. The width of the slots is preferably such that articles, such as tablets d-ll, may freely enter each of the slots The length of the slots is preferably such that a plurality of the tablets ltl may be positioned in side by side relation within each slot with the innermost tablet occupying the inner curved end portion.

An open ended cylindrical wall or hopper ring surrounds the periphery of the slotted disk in closely spaced relation and is supported by the plate Stops 4d, connected with the plate 2%, maintain the hopper ring 42 coaxial with respect to the slotted disk A cover disk as is coaxially connected to tl e motor shaft 24 by the key 36 and flatly contacts and is secured to the upper surface of the slotted disk Diametrically the cover disk as is smaller than the slotted disk .34- by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the tablets 4d, the length of capsu e or other articles being counted, so that a reserve supply of the tablets contained by the hopper wall or ring d2, may enter or be removed from the outer end portion of the respective slot in the manner more fully described hereinbelow. The motor l revolves the disks 3d and 5 6 in the direction shown by the arrows (PTGS. 1 and 2).

The drive shaft of a motor normally has a certain amount oi longitudinal movement, commonly called end play, which is undesirable if it should occur to such an extent that it permits movement of the slotted disk away from the plate 9/9 resulting in piling up, weri 'ing or constri .:tion of the articles To alle 'ute any such cessive movement, the drive shaft 24 is extended upwardly above the upper surface of the cover dial: and has secured thereto a flange A helical spring is then interposed between the flange and cover disk FIGURE 4- illustrates an alternative manner of cornpensating for the endwise movement of the drive shaft 23 wherein a second flange is secured to the drive shaft adjacent the upper surface of the cover disk A pin A29 is vertically secured to the cover disk as and projects upwardly through a suitable opening formed in the flange Thus when the motor shaft 24 moves upwardly, as viewed in H65. 3 and 4, the spring bearing against the outer flange 4-3, maintains the slotted disk in contact with the bearing 30.

A dropout hole or opening is formed through the top 33 and plate The opening t; is positioned so that the inwardly disposed end portion of each of the slots pass or travel across the opening 43 as the disk 34 is revolved. The overlapping distance of each slot with respect to the opening 48, is such that only one of the articles contained by the slot 38 will fall by gravity out the slot and through the opening. The circumferential distance of the opening along the path of travel of the innermost end portion of the slot 355, is great enough to insure that articles passing through the opera from the respective slot will have sufficient time to pass through the opening 48 even when the rate of rotation the slotted disk 34- is relatively fast.

A tubular housing 5%) is connected to the lower surface 2i around the marginal edges of the opening it} and is extended outwardly of the box 12 through the forward panel or front ill, for retaining the articles counted or conveying the latter to a suitable receptacle, not shown. A microswitch MS]. is mounted on a block 51 connected with the top so that its switch arm may be turned upwardly through an opening 58 formed in the plate and communicating with the opening to interrupt the path of travel of the innermost end portion of the slots 33 as the disk 3 is rotated. To accomplish this an annular, relatively narrow, groove 55 (FlG. 2) is cut .n ti

slot 3%, contacts the microswitch arm L is pivoted downwardly to close tne micro ch contt c. as

shown by dotted lines {Fit}. 5). During this action the cover plate td prevents upward movement of the table or article ll} to insure that the passage of the article 4% closes the rnicroswitch contacts. A spring stce lt' out wire is connected at one end to the top 13, in the path of travel of ti innermost tablets and opposite the position of the microswitch arm 5 -1, Eltfil projects at its other end portion upwardly through trie opening til, the groove and into the groove 55A. The purpose of the wire 5") is to insure ejection of the tablet ltl which ass closed the microswitch During the counting ope ation, as hereinafter while the slotted disk 34 is being rotated the configuration of some articles being counted, such as tablets or capsules, frequently tend to obstruct the outermost end portion of the respective slots in that between the periphery of the cover disk and the inner pernnery of the wall 22. This sometimes happens wl or two of the articles, such as tablets, stand on edge within the slot or a capsule stands on end and rides around the 1" th travel of the slots thus blocking the entry of the arti s into that area of the slot underlyir the cover disk To prevent such an occurrence at llipper spring will is connected to the plate Ell. The flipper spring tends longitudinally subst ially along the path of travel of the outermost end portion of the slots as shown in MG. The flipper spring is inclined upwardly throughout most of its length toward the under suri cc of the cover disk (*IG. 6). The free end portion of the flipper spring is turned upwardly, as at so that this end portion 62 projects upwardly into the respt slot 38 as the latter is rotated across the sprirg to produce a snapping or upward llipping action aga article carried by the slot to remove such artir within the outermost end portion of the slot.

Referring to l the counting control or selector mechanism ll l is connected to the device it by wirin The counting control M- is preferably housed witl separate unit, as shown, so that the control may be connected in parallel witl and control a plurality of the devices lib. As stated hereinabove the counting control i l- 3 ay he conventional. A commercially available counting unit which we have found satisfactory is imtnutactured by the Standard instrument Corp, New York, l-l.i model TC2/l2.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 7, our counter includes a pair of selector switches 33 and 555 which are manually set by moving their respective indicators of and ss to a preselected number representing the number of articles to be counted as more fully described hereinbelow. The switch S7 records units while the switch S3 records tens. The switches S7 and are interconnected and respectively connected with a pair of direct current stepping relays R7 and R8 as hereinafter described more fully.

The components of FIG. 7 are shown in tie-energized position. Alternating current AC, connected with a source of electrical energy, not shown, supplies current to the counter 1 by Wires and '72 through an oil-on control switch S1.

The wire "Ill is connected with one contact of the microswitch MSll. A wire 73 is connected at one end with the wire '76 and connected at its other end to one terminal of a relay Rl having four pairs of contacts or points A, B, E and F. The other terminal oi the relay R1 is connected to the wire 72 through a pair of nordescribed,

mally closed contacts G controlled by a relay R6 by wires 74 and 75. A normally open push button starting switch S4 is interposed in the wire 73. The switch S4 is ganged with a cooperating normally open starting switch S3 for the purposes presently described. Closing switch S4 energizes the coil of relay R1 to close its respective contacts A, B, E and F. One of the contacts A of relay R1 is connected to the wire 74) by a wire 85 through a stop switch S2. The other contact of the contacts A is connected by a wire 85a to the wire 73 between relay R1 and the switch S4. Thus when the starting switch S4 is released the holding contacts A maintain relay R1 energized. The wire 72 is connected to one terminal of a direct current relay R2, having contacts H and I, by wires 76 and 76a through a rectifier or diode D1, a suitable resistor and the contacts F of relay R1. The lowermost contacts of contacts E and F of relay R1, as viewed in FIG. 7, are connected together. The other terminal of relay R2 is connected by a wire 77 to the wire 70. A suitable resistor, a condenser C2 and a second diode D2 are connected in parallel between the wires 76 and 77. One of the contacts E of relay R1 is connected to the wire 7 6a by a wire 80 through a potentiometer P1. A condenser C3 is connected across the wires 77 and 86 to discharge through the potentiometer P1 and relay R2 for the reasons presently explained. Thus, when relay R1 closes its contacts F direct current is applied to relay R2 to energize and close its contacts H and J.

One terminal of the motor M1 is connected to the wire 70 by a wire 78. A relay R3, having two pairs of contacts K and L, has one of its terminals connected to the wire 78. The other terminal of the motor M1 is connected to one of the contacts K of relay R3 by a wire 79. The other terminal of the relay R3 is connected to the wire 79. The other contact of the contacts K is connected with one contact of the contacts I of relay R2 by a wire 81. The other contact of the contacts I of relay R2 is connected to the wire 76 by a wire 82. The switch S3 is connected across the wires 79 and 81. One of the contacts L of the relay R3 is connected to the other contact of the microswitch M81 by a wire 83 and the other contact of the contacts L is connected to one of the contacts B of relay R1 by a wire 84. Thus, when the contacts I of relay R2 are closed the coil of relay R3 is energized through the switch S3 when the switch S4 is closed simultaneously energizing the motor M1. When the starting switch S4 is released relay R3 remains energized through its holding contacts K.

One terminal of relay R5, having normally closed contacts O and N, is connected to the wires 73 and 85a by a wire 86. The other terminal of the relay R5 is connected to the wire 74 by a Wire 87. Thus, when relay R1 is energized and its contacts A are closed, relay R5 is energized and opens its normally closed pairs of contacts O and N. One terminal of the relay R6 is connected to the wire 70 by a wire 88. The other terminal of the relay R6 is connected to the indicator 68 of tens switch S8 by a wire 90 for the purposes presently described.

A diode D5 and condenser C5 are connected in series between the wires 74 and 88. One terminal of each of the relays R7 and R8 is connected in series by a wire 91 in turn connected at one end between the diode D5 and condenser C5. Each of the relays R7 and RS have two pairs of contacts PQ and T-U, respectively. The other terminal of the relay R7 is connected by a wire 92 to the other one of the contacts B of relay Rll. The stepping relays R7 and R8 each have a first level circuit of numbered points interconnected with similarly numbered points of the switches S7 and S8, respectively. The other terminal of the relay R8 is connected to a second level circuit of the relay R7 'by a wire 93. One of the contacts T of relay R8 is connected to the wire 93 while the other contact of the contacts T is connected to one of the contacts U of relay R8 by a wire 94. The

other contact of the contacts U is connected by a wire to one Otf the contacts N of relay R5. The other contact of the contacts N is connected to one of the contacts 0 of relay R5 by a wire 96 and to the wire 88 by a wire 97. The junction of the wires 88 and 97 is connected to the second level and a third level circuit of the relay R7 by a wire 89. The other one of the contacts 0 of relay R5 is connected by a wire 9% to one of the contacts Q of relay R7 and to the second level circut of relay R7. One of the contacts P of relay R7 is connected to the wire 92. The other contact of contacts P is connected to the other contact of the contacts Q by a wire S9.

A stepping arm or indicator 1% of relay R7 is connected by a wire 161 to its point zero which is in turn connected to the point zero of switch S7 by a wire 102. The indicator 66 of switch S7 is connected by a wire 1% to the point zero of relay R8 and to its stepping arm or indicator Hi5. Thus, when relay R1 closes its con tacts B and relay R3 is energized, as described hereinabove, an energizing circuit is established 'by the closing of the contacts of microswitch M51 from wire 7 0 through the microswitch M81 contacts L of relay R3 over wire 84 through the contacts B of relay R1 over wire 92 to relay R7. The direct current circuit is completed to relay R7 from the wire 72 over wire 74 through the diode D5 and over wire 91. This energizing of relay R7 occurs each time an article 40 being counted closes microswitch MST. Each time relay R7 is energized it advances its indicator arm 1% forward one position.

In the example shown by FIG. 7, the indicator 66 of units switch S7 is set on 5 while the indicator 68 of tens switch S8 is on 4 for a count of 45. When 45 items or articles 48 have closed microswitch MST that number of times, a circuit is completed from the wire 72 over wires 74, 37, 87a, will, indicator 1% of relay R7, by Wire 1 93 to the indicator 66 of switch S7, over wire 104 to the indicator 1% of relay R8, by wire W311 to the indicator 6% of switch S8 and over wire 90 to energize relay R6 by wire 83 connected with the line 70. When relay R6 is energized it opens its normally closed contacts G thus interrupting the circuit to relay R1 to stop the counting operation.

During the counting operation when relay R7 advances its indicator Till) to its point 10 a circuit is completed from the wire '72, as described hereinabove, to energize the relay R3 from the third level contacts of relay R7 over wires 93 and 91. Energizing relay Rt; advances its indicator 105 one point or position forward. When relay R7 advances its indicator to the point lltl simultaneously the contacts Q of relay R7 are closed by the second level contacts to energize relay R7 and step or return its indicator 1th} one point toward the zero position and at the same time open the contacts Q de-energizing relay R7 and allowing the contacts Q to close again. This repeating action results in a repeated stepping of the indicator 1% to the zero position at which time the stepping stops due to de-energizing relay R7 by the opening of its contacts P.

When relays R6 and R1 de-energize, as explained hereinabove, relay R5 tie-energizes permitting its contacts 0 and N to close. This places a voltage from wires 70 and 7.7, on relays R7 and R8 which causes them to repeatedly step their indicators tilt? and to their zero positions and then de-energize as explained hereinabove. This resetting to zero of the indicators of relays R7 and R8 occurs whenever a selected count has been completed thus automatically resetting the counter to the starting position.

When relay R1 is initially energized current through its contacts F is applied to relay R2 from the diode D1 and through the contacts E of relay R1 to capacitor C3. This allows relay R2 to energize immediately and capacitor C3 to charge immediately. Without the two sources of current either relay R2 would not energize firmly or the capacitor C3 would delay charging fully.

As explained hereinabove, when a count is completed relay R1 is immediately Clo-energized opening its contacts E and P which would normally de-energize relay R2 immediately but when this occurs capacitor C3 discharges through potentiometer P1 and associated resistors and the coil of relay R2 to form a time delay and maintain relay R2 energized for a period of time previously selected by the adjustment of potentiometer Pll from zero time to several seconds. This time delay permits relay R3 to remain energized a time after the completion of a count so that the motor M1 continues the movement of disks 3d and so that the last article 4t) counted will clear the arm 54 of microswitch M51 and fall by gravity through the drop-out hole Without the time delay feature provided by capacitor C3, the rapid action of the count cut-oil and a brake, not shown, on the motor M1 would stop the last item counted on the microswitch arm resulting in an inaccurate count.

The function of the diode D2 is to provide a constant value direct current voltage from the current source wires Til and 72, This constant or regulated direct current voltage allows the time lapse or delay, set by potentiometer P1, to remain the same each time the counting operation stops to assure a constant time delay movement of the disks 34 and id.

We have found that it is sometimes desirable to provide an additional time delay for the counter in addition to the time delay of potentiometer P1 due to the different characteristics of the hopper disks or the articles being counted. In this event an additional time delay is provided which is controlled by a second potentiometer P2 which adds to the time delay established by potentiometer P1. The circuit adding potentiometer P2 to the counting circuit lid, is shown within the shield lines 11d, and is similar in function to the circuit shown within the shield lines 12 and is connected in the following manner. A Wire 1111, connected with the wire 7%, is connected to one terminal of a direct current relay R4 having three pairs of contacts V, W and X. The other terminal of relay R4 is connected by wires 112 and 113 through the contacts V to one of the contacts H of relay R2. The other one of the contacts H of relay R2 is connected to the wire '76 by a wire 76b. A starting switch is connected across the wires 11 i and The starting switch is ganged with a starting switch as interposed in a wire 11.4 connected at one end with the wire 73 and connected at its other end to the Wire 11].. A wire 111a connects one of the contacts of a microswitch M52 to the wire 1'11. The other contact of the microswitch M82 is connected to one of the contacts X of relay R4 by a wire 115. The other contact of the contacts X is connected to the wire by a Wire 11d. A resistor is connected between the wires 11% and 116 adjacent the contacts X.

A motor M2 has one of its terminals connected to one terminal of the switch S6 by a wire 117. The other terminal of the motor M2 is connected to one of the conacts W of relay R -l by a wire 118. The other contact of contacts W is connected to the wire 82 by a wire 119. The potentiometer P2 is connected in series with a diode D4 between the wires 111 and 112 by a wire 120 in parallel with the relay Rd. A wire 121 is connected to the wire 81 and to a diode D3 which is in turn connected to the wire 12% between the diode D4 and potentiometer by a wire 1122. A capacitor C4 and a suitable resistor are connected across the wires 111 and 122 in parallel with the diode D4. The contacts I of relay R2 apply AC voltage to diode L3 and therefore direct current voltage to relay R4. Thus diodes D3 and D4 apply direct current voltage from two different sources to relay R4 and capacitor which insures direct current regulation and permits immediate energization of relay R4- and allows capacitor C4 to immediately charge.

As stated hercinabove, the motor M2, microswitch M52, and ganged starting switches S and (I6 correspond in their function to motor M1, microswitch M51 and starting switches S3 and S4. The operation of the circuit and components, within the shield lines 110, is similar to that described hereinabove for the circuit and components within the shield lines 12, except that, to achieve additional time delay, relay Rd must remain energized for a time after relay R2 is tie-energized. When relay R2 rte-energizes, both of its pairs of contacts H and I open. When the contacts H and I open direct current voltage is removed from the relay R4. This permits the capacitor C4 to discharge through potentiometer P2 to maintain relay Rd energized and assuring motor M2 of AC voltage through contacts W of relay R4 as long as relay R4 remains energized.

When a commercial predetermining counter is used, as disclosed hereinabove, the commercial counter, not shown, replaces the function of the relays R5, R6, R7, R8 and the selector switches 87 and $8. The commercial counter is connected to the wires tiii and at the position of the connector plate The commercial counter includes a pair of normally closed contacts similar to the contacts G of relay Rd which open when the predetermined count is reached and are connected to the wires 7d and '75 at the position of the plate 125.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its practicability, and we ther re do not Wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein, further than we are limited by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

in an article counting device having a support forming an inclined upper surface, a ring removahly mounted on the inclined surface forming an article receiving hopper, a motor having a drive shaft projecting through the support coaxial with respect to the ring, a radially slotted disk coaxially connected to the drive shaft above the inclined surface, a cover disk coaxially connected to the drive shaft and overlying the slotted disk in circumferential inwardly spaced relation with respect to the periphery of thelatter, said support having an opening underlying the path of travel of the innermost end portion of the slots in the slotted disk, a normally open switch mounted on the support adjacent the opening and in the path of travel of the innermost end portion of the slots, and article counting means interconnecting a source of electrical energy with the motor and the normally open switch, the improvement compri 'ng: spacer means mounted on said support around said drive shaft and underlying said slotted disk for maintaining said slotted disk in selected spaced relation above said support; and resilient means connected with the end portion of said drive shaft projecting through said support and bearing against said cover disk for maintaining the spacing be tween said slotted disk and said inclined surface constant.

2. Structure as specified in claim 1 in which a downwardly open annular groove is formed through said slot ted disk intersecting the innermost end portion of the slots therein and projecting into the depending surface of said cover disk, said normally open switch having a switch arm projecting upwardly through said support and into the annular groove formed in said cover disk.

3. Structure as specified in claim 2 in which the innermost end portion of each radial slot is arcuately offset, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the respective slot, toward the direction of rotation of the slotted disk.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 65,241 7/1939 Downey 1338 5/1966 Read 133-8 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ARTICLE COUNTING DEVICE HAVING A SUPPORT FORMING AN INCLINED SUPPER SURFACE, A RING REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE INCLINED SURFACE FORMING AN ARTICLE RECEIVING HOPPER, A MOTOR HAVING A DRIVE SHAFT PROJECTING THROUGH THE SUPPORT COAXIAL WITH RESPECT TO THE RING, A RADIALLY SLOTTED DISK COAXIALLY CONNECTED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT ABOVE THE INCLINED SURFACE, A COVER DISK COAXIALLY CONNECTED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT AND OVERLYING THE SLOTTED DISK IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL INWARDLY SPACED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE LATTER, SAID SUPPORT HAVING AN OPENING UNDERLYING THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE INNERMOST END PORTION OF THE SLOTS IN THE SLOTTED DISK, A NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT ADJACENT THE OPENING AND IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE INNERMOST END PORTION OF THE SLOTS, AND ARTICLE COUNTING MEANS INTERCONNECTING A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY WITH THE MOTOR AND THE NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SPACER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AROUND SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND UNDERLYING SAID SLOTTED DISK FOR MAINTAINING SAID SLOTTED DISK IN SELECTED SPACED RELATION ABOVE SAID SUPPORT; AND RESILIENT MEANS CONNECTED WITH THE END PORTION OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT PROJECTING THROUGH SAID SUPPORT AND BEARING AGAINST SAID COVER DISK FOR MAINTAINING THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID SLOTTED DISK AND SAID INCLINED SURFACE CONSTANT. 